Do you watch the rugby.... I didn't realise it was so rough?

Rugby Union football has been described as a 'Street fight with a ball'. 

Any one who wants to 'throw their weight around', I suggest they join a Rugby Union club and play a few games. They will then know how 'tough they are'. 

Yes. It's my favourite sport to watch. There is nothing in the sporting world quite like a rugby ball being about 1 inch from the try line with 15 big guys trying their hearts out to move it that 1 inch to score while 15 big guys try their hearts out to stop it. The sheer effort the players put in is simply awe inspiring.

Rugby really involves two different aspects. You can keep possession of the ball by passing it through the hands, but it is tough then to gain territory. Or you can kick the ball and gain territory quickly but at the risk of losing possession. The essence of the game is how teams balance and control those two elements.

And yes. It is a rough sport. But I love the fact that there's no nonsense with players talking back to the ref, no guys rolling around on the ground 'simulating' injuries, big players tearing up with pride when national anthems are played ... it's the way sports should be.

It’s a full contact sport with big blokes who do a lot of weights. Because of the chance of injury there are many rules that help keep the players safe. That being said bad injuries still occur. It wouldn’t be the same game if they reduced the heavy contact element.

I played rugby for over 25 years. I know how rough it is. Watching a game you don't even get a clue of how tough it is in the front row. I played tighthead prop.

Rugby is garbage.Liars and idiots just won't stop calling it football.The pathetic creatures are green with envy!

In North America and Australia versions of rugby have been falsely called football.The only consolation is that liars will go to hell.

We rarely get any rugby games on tv but when we do, I sometimes watch it. It’s safer than football. The Seattle Seahawks uses the rugby tackling techniques to make it safer. Football players uses their helmets as a weapon. In football, a pass goes forward so you gave players running into each other on a cross pattern. In rugby, it’s just short lateral passes so when players get hit, the opponent isn’t going full speed.

Wow really? I never knew that, do you have any more pearls of wisdom?

That is rugby for you......

They don't wear pads like football (American) players do.

I not only watch but I used to play the game too.

BTW American football is a direct evolution of rugby (i.e. it started as rugby but they gradually changed certain rules and added padding over time such that it no longer looks the same - but the word "touchdown" comes from rugby, in football you don't actually have to touch the ball down anymore like you have to do in rugby).

Yes, it's a great game....personally I prefer Rugby Union to Rugby League but both are tough, exciting games.